The hanging gardens of babylon

Obelisks, pyramids and motifs from ancient Egypt didn’t only influence grand country houses or powerful Biblical paintings, but also shaped tea-ware, cinemas and even factory floors, as Michael Hall reveals

Discover the sites that have stood the test of time during the ancient city’s long, turbulent history

In the Basilica Cistern deep beneath the streets of Istanbul lie mysterious statues of the monstrous gorgon

Istanbul, Turkey 1616 – Present

How the Qin forged a great power from the fragments of the Warring States

The imagined gardens within the pages of our favourite books can seem as real as the flower beds outside our door. Here, author Sandra Lawrence explores three evocative literary landscapes